Official stress importance of preschool’s role in reducing future crime

Monday

Feb 10, 2014 at 7:14 PMFeb 10, 2014 at 9:35 PM

By Jason NevelStaff Writer

JACKSONVILLE — Political and law enforcement officials gathered Monday to show support for bolstering preschool education as a way to reduce crime.

State Sens. Sam McCann, R-Carlinville, and C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, joined Morgan County Sheriff Randy Duvendack, Jacksonville Police Chief Tony Grootens and South Jacksonville Police Chief Richard Evans in reading to a classroom of children at Walnut Court Early Years Elementary School.

The event was sponsored by “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois,” a group of more than 300 law enforcement leaders and prosecutors in Illinois who advocate for ways to prevent kids from becoming criminals later on in life.

In Morgan County, due to budget cuts, the number of 3- and- 4-year-olds enrolled in a State Board of Education-funded preschool program has dropped from 390 in 2008 to 280 in 2013.

The same can be said in Sangamon County, where enrollment was 1,933 students in 2008 and now 1,365 students last year, according to figures provided Monday.

Duvendack said the organization is trying to send the message that not investing in preschool education now will cost more down the road.

When a child falls behind other students in skills such as reading and writing, it’s difficult to catch up. That can lead to frustration and disrupt a child’s enthusiasm for learning, the sheriff said.

“Every dollar we cut from high-quality preschool represents lost opportunities to improve lives and public safety in our community,” Duvendack said.

A 2013 study by “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids” found that children who participated in high-quality preschool and parent-coaching programs through Chicago’s Child-Parent Centers were 20 percent less likely to be arrested for a felony or be incarcerated as young adults than those who did not attend.

The group is pushing for a state-federal partnership that would invest $75 billion over 10 years into early childhood education.

Illinois alone could see its prison population decrease by more than 4,800 each year and save $131 million, the study found.

“From our perspective, it’s better dollars spent on the front end rather than the back end,” Duvendack said.